Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford is mourning the death of husband Stephen Way, who has passed away at the age of 85

Gloria Hunniford’s husband of more than 20 years has died at the age of 85.

The Loose Women star, 84, wed the businessman in 1998, and she said he would leave “the most enormous void, not only in my life”.

Stephen Way, who was a renowned celebrity hairdresser, passed away on Tuesday following a “heroic fight” with an illness, the family announced.

Gloria and Stephen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last year. Speaking of her loss for the first time publicly today, Gloria said: “Stephen was a gentleman and a giant of a man, who will leave the most enormous void not only in my life, but our entire family. He was an incredibly kind, generous, and caring man, with a delightfully quirky sense of humour, which remained till the end. We had a tremendously happy 25-year marriage and did so many beautiful and exciting things together that I will always cherish.”

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Stephen Way and Gloria Hunniford ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Mam)

Gloria released an emotional tribute following the sad news ( 
Image:
David Dyson / Daily Mirror)

Stephen was described as a “wonderful husband, father and grandfather” and Gloria added: “It’s a great shock and words cannot express my sadness at this time. A bright shining light has dimmed, and he shall be missed at every turn.”

It was Stephen who broke the news of the death of her former husband Don Keating as she came off stage after hosting a TV chat show in 1997, she revealed that year.

When they started dating, he owned an hairdressing salon in New Bond Street, Mayfair.

Last year, Gloria revealed Stephen had been left partially blind in his right eye after suffering a second stroke. She had spoken of his numerous health battles and in 2020 praised the NHS for saving his life. Stephen was involved in a taxi accident in 2019, leaving the base of his spine fractured.

Gloria Hunniford paid tribute to husband Stephen Way ( 
Image:
ITV)

In 2004, Stephen had a heart attack and in 2012 he had his first stroke. Speaking of the incident, Gloria previously said: “He said something about the garden to me, he told me there was something the matter with his left arm and said it was like cotton wool and he had no control over it.”

He had previously been Gloria’s support following the tragic death of her daughter in 2004. Caron, who had followed in her mum’s footsteps and became a TV presenter, died from breast cancer aged 41 in 2004.

Earlier this year she explained her the pain of Caron’s death “never goes away”. Speaking of how Stephen helped her at the time and with tough periods in her life, Gloria previously said: “Stephen’s a lovely man and so supportive of me in every way. It’s very important to look after your relationship, especially when it’s a second marriage, and my concession is that I don’t work every day so we have time together.”

Gloria previously said losing a child was “the deepest sense of loss you can ever face”.

“Because I have personally lost parents, I’ve lost a former husband. Yes, it’s all relative to the situation and relative to the person and relative to where you are in your life. But I think to lose a child sends you into the darkest black hole imaginable and one which I never thought I’d get out of.”

Gloria and Stephen exchanged wedding vows at St Peter’s Church in Kent in 1998. They continued the celebrations at the majestic Hever Castle. Last year, the couple returned to the same spot to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. She told Hello Magazine at the time that her memories of that special day are as vivid as ever, and the secret to their happy marriage is “love, laughter and good conversation”.

She assed: “I can remember walking into the church, filled with family and friends, and the candles all lit – it was wonderful. We’ve often said we would love to live it all over again.

“Of course, there is physical attraction, but our relationship is full of kindness and humour. We enjoy talking to each other. Talk, talk, talk – that is a wonderful thing.”